Astros report: Upbeat Maxwell leaves for Royals

Buried beneath the noise surrounding Bud Norris’ trade to the Orioles was 29-year-old outfielder Justin Maxwell’s being sent to Kansas City on Wednesday for righthanded pitching prospect Kyle Smith, 20.

Maxwell hit just .241 with two home runs and eight RBIs for the Astros this season.

He was limited to 40 games due to hand and head injuries and has been plagued by injuries during an abbreviated five-year career.

Maxwell was a strong presence inside the clubhouse, though, and a close friend of rookie center fielder Brandon Barnes.

Maxwell knows the Astros’ record is difficult to accept, but he believes he left an improving club with a positive vision of how an MLB veteran should act on and off the field.

“I definitely enjoyed my time in Houston,” he said. “I had a lot of fun this year and last year and met a lot of great guys here.”

Wanted: Starter for fifth spot

The Astros lack a fifth starter with Bud Norris in an Orioles uniform.

Jordan Lyles, Dallas Keuchel, Jarred Cosart and Erik Bedard — who was scheduled to start Wednesday but was scratched — will hold the initial four spots.

Former No. 2 starter Lucas Harrell, Brett Oberholtzer, several relievers-turned-starters in the bullpen and a promotion from Class AAA Oklahoma City are possibilities for the open role.

Astros manager Bo Porter said the club first needed to “get through” Wednesday. Then the team would set its revamped rotation, outfield and 25-man roster.

Springer to keep OKC address

The Astros have no plans to soon call up Class AAA outfielder George Springer, who entered Wednesday hitting .349 with 10 homers and 28 RBIs in 31 games for Oklahoma City.

Springer, 23, has 29 homers and 35 stolen bases in 104 total minor league games this season at the AA and AAA levels.

“My answer is not going to change,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “He’s been at Triple-A for a little over a month. We feel he needs a little more time there.”

Odds and ends

Righthander Bud Norris will start Thursday night for the Orioles against the Astros in the series finale. … Outfielder Brandon Barnes left Wednesday’s game with lower back tightness. … Reliever Travis Blackley was hit in the face by a ball during batting practice, suffering a left eye contusion.